A DISGUSTED walker has hit out at the "mindless and irresponsible" actions of flytippers who left a dozen large bags of rubbish to tarnish a popular beauty spot.

Graham Sims, 68, said he had headed out for a walk around the picturesque Abberton Reservoir when he spotted the unceremoniously dumped sacks of rubbish in a layby.

The large bags were left just a few yards from Layer Brook and were discovered by Mr Sims on Thursday.

He raised the issue with Colchester Council, but decided to share a picture of the abandoned waste in a bid to discourage further flytipping.

Mr Sims, from Rowhedge, said: “It is mindless flytipping, and flytipping on a grand scale.

“How can people be so thoughtless, irresponsible and anti-social?

“This is more than the occasional black bag you see littered about, it is on a much grander scale.

“There are some lovely walks along the reservoir, a lovely little spot tucked away from the rest of the world.

“This kind of flytipping is ruining that.”

He added: “I have contacted Colchester Council and reported it.

“This is serious stuff and would be good to highlight just how crazy and anti-social some people can be.”

The report comes just days after Colchester Council launched a new campaign to crackdown on careless litterbugs.

A series of posters and social media messages ask residents questions like: Does litter make you feel rubbish?, What’s your dirty secret? and Are you a (litter) tosser?

According to the council, the number of incidents of littering and fly-tipping increased across the borough during the first national lockdown.

Now in the second national lockdown, the council is urging residents and visitors to play their part in keeping the borough clean.

A council spokesman said: “We responded to the incident on Layer Road, Abberton and have reported it to Essex and Suffolk Water Company, who own land in this area.”

The council’s environment boss Martin Goss added: “Any form of fly tipping is simply unacceptable.

“Not only is it unsightly, it’s so harmful to the environment and potentially dangerous, and it takes time and puts additional strain on our resources to clear up.”